“A LIBRARY OF DIVINITY”: HANDSOMELY BOUND FIRST EDITION OF D’OYLY AND MANT’S POPULAR ILLUSTRATED THREE-VOLUME STUDY BIBLE, WITH 64 ENGRAVED PLATES

BIBLE. The Holy Bible, According To the Authorized Version; with Notes, Explanatory and Practical… Oxford: Printed for the Society at the Clarendon Press, 1817. Three volumes. Large quarto, contemporary full straight-grain burgundy morocco, elaborately gilt-decorated spines, raised bands, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. $8500.

Second edition of D’Oyly and Mant’s “valuable annotated Bible” (DNB), featuring the venerable King James text accompanied by extensive notes from the Church of England’s “most eminent writers,” splendidly illustrated with 64 engraved plates—many after the paintings of old masters and including nine fine engraved maps, two folding—and handsomely bound in full straight-grain morocco-gilt.

First published in 1611 and indisputably the most influential of English Bible translations, the impact of the King James Version on piety, language and literature is incalculable. "The first edition of this Bible, prepared at the instance of Archbishop [of Canterbury] Manners-Sutton, appeared in 1814; the editors were his Domestic Chaplains" (Darlow & Moule 1072). "The reader who may consult [D'Oyly and Mant's Bible] will rarely be disappointed… [It] may be pronounced to be a library of divinity" (Horne, 262). Extensive indices and concordance at rear of Volume III. With Apocrypha. Herbert 1658. Small bookbinder's tickets.

Occasional light foxing and offsetting. Marginal closed tear to leaf 13T1, Volume III, touching text. Contemporary straight-grain morocco-gilt bindings expertly recased with marbled endpapers preserved. A near-fine copy of an impressive study Bible.